Fall visitors will almost certainly need to rent a car and drive here on their own, on Alaska Route 3 (the "George Parks Highway"). As it's a small city, from here it shouldn't be a long drive to your accommodation or destination. Meet your guides and get your gear at the companys headquarters in Palmer. You cannot drive past the Savage River post in Denali National Park (unless you visit in September and secure aDenali Road Lottery Permit) which is only a few miles past the visitor center. Plus, our mosquitoes usually die off the first week in August, so they are long gone. Railroad enthusiasts will appreciate the Alaska Railroad Museum located inside the historic train station from 1923. Keep sleeping bags in your car just in case. Seward is in a great position to explore the numerous glaciers and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay. Which one is right for you? 7-10 days is the most common. Starting at: $3569 / per person. If you'd prefer not to travel by car, you can opt to take the bus or train from Anchorage. If you intend to road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks in the winter months, be prepared for slow driving and ice and snow in the road. It's well worth heading into central Alaska to see more of what this dazzling state has to offer. You could head toward Chena Hotsprings and have a soak in the hot waters. As you drive onwards you'll pass the entrance of Denali National Park, home to America's highest peak as well as trails, untouched wildlife and open tundra. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. This quirky former tourist attraction offers visitors the eerie experience of seeing a completely abandoned hotel and marks the halfway point between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Once you are well-rested, grab a quick brunch(BearstoothandSnow Cityare some of my faves), and run by a store to grab any supplies youll need before heading south on the Seward Highway. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A little further gets you to Denali National Park, the home of North America's tallest mountain, Mount McKinley. How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Alaska? McKinley) views. This includes spectacular views of Denali (on a clear day, anyway) as the train hugs the Susitna River coming out of Talkeetna, as well as the gorgeous Indian River Valley and the 294-foot-high bridge at Hurricane Gulch. Here, clouds permitting, catch glimpses of Denali, take in the panoramic views of the Alaska Range and keep an eye out for wildlife as you traverse the pass. I have a thing for little-visited parts of the world, breakaway regions, and remote places. Kesugi Ridge is one of the best backpacking trails in Alaska, but if youre not up for the multiday challenging hike you can absolutely do a day hike here too! The driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks is 360 miles. Here's an insider's rundown: Alaskas biggest cityrich with museums, shops and restaurantssees the least amount of change as August turns into September. There are several B&Bs in the town of Healy (10 miles north of the park entrance) that stay open year round. Continue on AK-3 and take the Airport Way exit to arrive in Fairbanks. trip dates & more! Updated March 2023,One Week in Alaska Road Trip: Anchorage to Fairbanksoriginally written in July 2017. Can you Drive to Gates of the Arctic National Park? Last updated: [wpautoterms last_updated_date]If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us. Taking this route will add about 20 miles and an hour of driving time to your road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Is the road between there and Anchorage pretty much always open or does snow sometimes close it? This area is similar to Denali in the sense that many hotels and tours shut down by mid-Septemberafter which things are really shut down. Get the reverse directions for a Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Trails near the park entrance and winter visitor center are color-coded by difficulty level, so you can easily determine the snowshoe route thats best for you. There are long stretches without towns and services, but there are also plenty of places to stop along the highway. Healy Click on any question to see answers from the community! All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. If you are away from the road (such as in Denali National Park) then you will be mostly without service. You can even do a guided walk or hike here to learn even more about the natural history and beauty of Alaska. Continuing left will keep you on the Seward Highway to Seward. Fairbanks is a gateway to the great Alaskan wilderness on its doorstep, such as the trails and wildlife of the Chena River State Recreation Area. If you go straight to Seward with no stops, plan on a roughly two hour drive(about 125 miles). If youre relying on a strong signal for steaming music or podcasts, make sure to download them before your road trip so you dont get frustrated losing the signal frequently. Use code ADVENTURESOFNICOLE Alaska's second largest city is well worth the pilgrimage and freezing temperatures. And, many cruise lines discount their September cruises. But, to be fair, those cruises and buses are less crowded than they were in June, July or August. Where are the gas stations and other services? Services are operated by Alaska Airlines, Inc.. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. During the winter months, the centers building is open Friday through Sunday during the day, and the trails are always open. Its totally possible, just a long day. Accommodation: 14 nights. Fairbanks, AK, is the place to be during the weekend if you . Through this blog Ill show you how you can visit these destinations, tricks for budget travel, road trip itineraries, and more. The next point of interest will be a feat of engineering, the century-old Hurricane Bridge, which crosses a wide chasm and connects southcentral Alaska to the Alaska interior. Find dining and lodging in Palmer by visiting the valleys tourism website at alaskavisit.com. Logout Nenana is somewhat famous for being the location where President Harding drove the golden spike for the completion of the Alaska Railroad the same year. If you're a photographer, you may be interested in a fall foliage photo tour. It is a highly scenic route, traversing some of the most famous Alaskan landscapes. Unsubscribe at anytime. And the color is gorgeous: youll see a nice mix of the bright yellow deciduous trees in the lower elevations near the park entrance, and as you get into the park and the tundra emerges, youll see a vibrant, deep red. Youll zip across snowy meadows and icy lakes and past majestic mountains, stopping to appreciate the spectacular Alaskan backcountry and watch for wildlife. The best route from Anchorage to Fairbanks is via the George Parks Highway Interstate 3. Then, travel through Anchorage to Denali and spend several days here. While brochures wax poetic about how early fall can be the perfect time to visit Alaska, the days are shorter, and it can also be rainy and cooler. If you do have a bit more time to budget for you Anchorage to Fairbanks itinerary, Id suggest spending a night over in Kayakers Cove to add an adventurous day on your trip. At an elevation of 2,400 feet, the highest point on the Parks Highway is Broad Pass. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Check out the log cabin visitor center with its sod roof (covered in gorgeous flowers in the summer) as well as the Cultural Center. Trippy is where ANCHORAGE TO TALKEETNA Entries Feed But you can stretch your legs at any time, enjoy all three meals in the dining car, and usually be able to take in the scenery from special domed rail cars. Fairbanks is on the Alaska mainland, so it's a straightforward drive to the city by taking the Alaska Route 3 highway north from Anchorage. How long is the drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks? Anchorage is 187 miles from the the junction with the Richardson Highway. Meanwhile, the national park starts offering abbreviated versions of their summer bus toursbasically, the tours only drive as far into the park as you can go without seeing signs of winter along the road (as in, snow). Posted August 28, 2007. By car, Fairbanks is 7 to 8 hours from Anchorage, and only 45 minutes by air. And if you know Anchorage well, please help your fellow Late August through mid-September is also the peak season for going polar-bear viewing in the Arctic, and those tours leave from Fairbanks, too. Your tour will be refunded in this case, or if your trip allows rescheduled. Driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks will give you a feel for Alaskas vast landscapes and at stops along the way you can enjoy hikes, views, picnics and get to know what Alaska is like! Highlights plus less visited destinations. Talkeetna is a funky, fun, little Alaska town that at one point in time had a cat for a mayor (RIP Stubbs). Mt Healy is a great hike in Denali National Park near the entrance area that you can do without planning ahead and being on a bus trip. Privacy Policy & Disclaimer. Drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks 6h 41m $65 - $95 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Anchorage (ANC) to Fairbanks (FAI) flights The flight time between Anchorage (ANC) and Fairbanks (FAI) is around 1h 2m and covers a distance of around 262 miles. To do this, leave the Parks Highway between Palmer and Wasilla, and head up steeply into the mountains before getting to Hatcher Pass and then continuing on to the other side and coming out in Willow. The drive is straightforward using Alaska Route 3 which connects both cities. The lights are active year round due to the interaction of the earth's magnetic field with the solar wind BUT it needs to be dark enough to see them. Hotels and restaurants at Denali Village are closed in winter, so youll need to drive about 12 more miles up the Parks Highway to the town of Healy for winter lodging and dining (denalichamber.com). The Anchorage Museum showcases artful Alaskans and Arctic subjects, with exhibits rotating throughout the year. If going into the backcountry you must obtain a backcountry pass at the visitor center- they are free. From here you can see the entire park entrance area. The bus is a cheaper option than the train, and there are a range of providers. Where to stay camping, hotels and lodges, Best hikes on the drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Best stops on the drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks, https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. Every twenty years or so, a freak early snow will surprise people, but the roads remain open. Another two hours up the road is iconic Denali National Park; Fairbanks is another couple hours north. 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